Private Murphy and the Cawnpore Massacre.

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 26 June 1914, Page 2

Private Murphy and the Cawnpore Massacre.

A quiet little Irishman in a pith helmet and linen jacket, Private Murphy was, some fifty years ago, guardian of the Memorial Gardens at Cawnpore. Anglo-Indians visiting the, historical spot would chat to him with interest, for he was one of the very few survivors of Nana Sahib's treacherous massacre of June 2fi, 1557.

How the British officers and soldiers, civilians, women and children were all induced to quit the primitive fortifications they had ,so gallantly held for three fierce weeks, and lured to the riverside .under pro-

mise of safe-conduct, is a page of history only too well known. Once the long, helpless procession was fairly cooped in the fatal ravine by the Ganges, ready t^o embark on the straw-thatched barges, Nana Sahib's men fell upon them with fire and steel, the majority being slaughtered as they stood, and some (mostly women and children) reserved for a lingering, but not less

certain, doom

One boa-t alone gained the stream; but, curiously enough, she contained the pick of the defence, Major Vibart, Asiie, Whiting, Thomson, Delafosse, and other officers distinguished for their valour. Some of the fugitives, who had swum into the river to escape the hail of bullets, made for the boat and clambered aboard, among others Private Murphy and Gunner Sullivan. Sail-less, oar-less, rudder-less, exposed to a withering fire from both banks, the unwieldly craft drifted slowly down-stream. The morning found the river swollen with rain, the fugitives —such few as were yet alive—foodless and sleepless, the banks still lined with enemies. When a little party of fifteen valiant men landed to drive off these latter they fomnd themselves cut off, the boat captured, and the wounded men and women left on board carried back to the carnage of Cawnpore. The two officers and thirteen men took refuge in a riverside temple ; but were driven out by fire and gunpowder. Those unable to swim charged into the crowd of sepoys and died fighting. The seven swimmers took to the river. Three were killed, but the other four—Murphy, Sullivan, Captain Thomson, and Lieutenant Delafosse —floated down six miles till some natives on the bank greeted them with fair words. Sullivan died of exhaustion a fortnight later, but in due time Murphy and his comrades reached the British outposts near Allahabad.

After filling a lamp with paraflin, damp a cloth with vinegar and rub the reservoir till quite dry. This will prevent the lamp from sweating.